Oral Communication Toolkit

Using criteria sheets to assess oral presentations

The following table illustrates the incremental progression of students’ oral presentation skills.

A criteria sheet for assessing students’ oral presentations
	1	2	3	4
Organisation	Audience cannot understand presentation because there is no sequence of information.	Audience has difficulty following presentation because student jumps around.	Student presents information in logical sequence which audience can follow.	Student presents information in logical, interesting sequence which audience can follow.
Subject knowledge	Student does not have grasp of information; student cannot answer questions about subject.	Student is uncomfortable with information and is able to answer only rudimentary questions.	Student is at ease with expected answers to all questions, but fails to elaborate.	Student demonstrates full knowledge (more than required) by answering all class questions with explanations and elaboration.
Communication aids	Student uses superfluous aids or no aids.	Student occasionally uses aids that rarely support text and presentation.	Students’ aids relate to text and presentation.	Students’ aids explain and reinforce screen text and presentation.
Mechanics	Students’ presentation has four or more spelling errors and/or grammatical errors.	Presentation has three misspellings and/or grammatical errors.	Presentation has no more than two misspellings and/or grammatical errors.	Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors.
Eye contact	Student reads all of report with no eye contact.	Student occasionally uses eye contact, but still reads most of report.	Student maintains eye contact most of the time but frequently returns to notes.	Student maintains eye contact with audience, seldom returning to notes.
Oral delivery	Student mumbles, incorrectly pronounces terms, and speaks too quietly for students in the back of class to hear.	Students’ voice is low. Student incorrectly pronounces terms. Audience members have difficulty hearing presentation.	Students’ voice is clear. Student pronounces most words correctly. Most audience members can hear presentation.	Student uses a clear voice and correct, precise pronunciation of terms so that all audience members can hear presentation.
Personal appearance	Personal appearance is inappropriate for the occasion and intended audience.	Some aspects of appearance reflect a lack of sensitivity to nuances of the occasion.	Personal appearance is generally appropriate for the occasion and audience.	Personal appearance is completely appropriate for the occasion and the audience.
Questions	Responds to questions inadequately.	Misses some opportunities for interaction and does not always comfortably handle questions.	Generally responds to audience comments, questions and needs.	Consistently clarifies, restates, and responds to questions. Summarises when needed.

Adapted from: Presentation Rubric: Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 24 October, 2006.
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html

and Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence Rubric: Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 24 October, 2006.
http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/pdf/oralCommRubric.pdf

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